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Vinson v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Mar 1, 1989
379 S.E.2d 792 (Ga. Ct. App. 1989)

Opinion

77598.

DECIDED MARCH 1, 1989. REHEARING DENIED MARCH 10, 1989.

Burglary. DeKalb Superior Court. Before Judge Weeks.

Richard Vinson, pro se. Robert E. Wilson, District Attorney, Robert M. Coker, Nelly F. Withers, James W. Richter, Assistant District Attorneys, for appellee.


In this appeal from his convictions for burglary and giving a false name to an officer, appellant's enumerations of error concern the sufficiency of the evidence and the legality of his sentences. We affirm.

1. Appellant was arrested when he was discovered in the offices of a church at a time when they were not open to the public. The indictment charging him with burglary alleged that he had entered the building with intent to commit a (theft). At trial and on appeal, he has admitted all the elements of burglary except intent, and argues that the State failed to bear its burden of proof in that regard.

"`"Whether the defendant entertained an intent to commit a (theft) after entering is a matter for the jury to say, under the facts and circumstances proved. [Cit.] As a general rule the (S)tate must, of necessity, rely on circumstantial evidence in proving intent. [Cit.] And the fact that defendant may have failed in accomplishing his apparent purpose does not render a finding of burglary improper. [Cits.]" [Cits.]'" Prothro v. State, 186 Ga. App. 836 (1) ( 368 S.E.2d 793) (1988). Among the "facts and circumstances proved" here are that the offices where appellant was arrested contained items of value, including office machinery and postage stamps; that appellant had no identification or other papers in his possession; that appellant resisted the entry of first an employee and then the security officers who were called; that appellant lied to the arresting officers about his name and admitted doing so for the purpose of concealing his identity; and that although appellant claimed he had entered the office to copy some documents, he had no-documents on his person and none related to him was found in the office. We note that even if appellant's version of the facts was to be accepted, he has admitted an intent to use the church's copying machine; taking the copies would have been a theft.

Considering the whole of the evidence, a rational trier of fact would have been authorized to find appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the offenses charged. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (99 SC 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 136) (1988); Prothro v. State, supra; OCGA § 16-10-25.

2. "`[I]f the sentence is within the statutory limits, the appellate courts will not review it. [Cits.]'" Stephens v. State, 185 Ga. App. 546 (3) ( 365 S.E.2d 136) (1988). Since appellant's sentences were within the statutory limits, his enumeration of error in that regard is without merit.

3. Appellant's brief contains arguments on issues other than those presented by the two enumerations of error. "`An enumeration of error may not be enlarged by brief on appeal to cover issues not contained in the original enumeration. [Cits.]'" Jackson v. State, 186 Ga. App. 847 (3) ( 368 S.E.2d 771) (1988).

Judgment affirmed. McMurray, P. J., and Pope, J., concur.

DECIDED MARCH 1, 1989 — REHEARING DENIED MARCH 10, 1989 — CERT. APPLIED FOR.


Summaries of

Vinson v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Mar 1, 1989
379 S.E.2d 792 (Ga. Ct. App. 1989)
Case details for

Vinson v. State

Case Details

Full title:VINSON v. THE STATE

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Mar 1, 1989

Citations

379 S.E.2d 792 (Ga. Ct. App. 1989)
379 S.E.2d 792

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